LA GURU LOVES CONVERTING REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES INTO SONGS
Colombian singer and songwriter La Guru has been grinding in the industry for over a decade and is reaching milestones she could have never imagined. From having over a million streams of her music to working with some of the biggest international stars in the world, if you aren’t hip to La Guru we are happy to put you on. We got the chance to sit down with the “Bareto y Chanel” superstar to talk all things music and much more!
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
Congratulations on surpassing 1 million streams on Apple Music! How does it feel to reach this milestone, and what does it mean for your career?
It’s validation that I am on the right path. Despite what the naysayers said along this journey, it shows that we have been creating something special. Thank you to everyone who has taken a moment of their day to support my music.
Karol G discovered you through your song “Perra Melancolica”. Can you share the story of how that song came to be, and what themes or emotions you aimed to convey?
I always knew the song had something very special. It was a song that went against the industry standards and was said to not be radio friendly … however I’ve always loved the song but never imagined it would touch and reach so many people. Karol has been one of the most significant blessings in my career. I am forever grateful to her.
How did it feel when Karol G invited you to perform “Perra Melancholica” on El Show de Juanpis Gonzalez? What was that experience like, and how did it impact your visibility as an artist?
I was so nervous when she invited me … You don’t let these once in a lifetime opportunities pass. This was the moment every artist waits for, and I knew I had to kill it no matter what.
Karol has a dedicated fan base and she opened the doors to her family and fans … this provided visibility to my project. People showed up for Karol and then stayed for La Guru. They have connected with my music and I want to thank everyone for believing in the project.
Your performance on Juanpis Gonzalez became one of the most-watched episodes. What do you think resonated with the audience about your music and your message?
The truth, and that’s why the people resonate with the song. As we go through life, we all experience forms of melancholic emotions and feel nostalgic when reminiscing about those moments. My biggest inspiration when composing is converting real life experiences into song, which can be felt vividly through my music. Performing on the Juanpis Gonzalez allowed for the masses to get to know me. I still cannot believe how many people keep saying that they showed up for Karol and discovered La Guru.
Being invited to perform at J Balvin’s album release party is a significant honor. What was that experience like, and how do you view your relationship with other artists in the reggaetón music scene?
It was a very beautiful experience because I reconnected with other artists from the Colombian scene, and it was great to do so because I currently don’t live in Colombia. I also realized that there are still lacking the presence of women in a male dominated industry, who need to make a strong impact in the industry. I felt that vacancy of someone representing the female gender. I felt like a Rockstar, like I was in the right place, the kind of place where my talent is exalted, where I feel I need to be.
With over 250 songs recorded, how do you decide which tracks to include in your upcoming LP, ‘Lagrimas Dulces’? What themes or concepts are you exploring in this project?
I think something that has defined me as an artist and in the way I make music is that I’m a storyteller. I like to take people on a journey. So when it comes to creating a bunch of songs and then giving them direction to put them in an album or project, I imagine the story—not only what the music conveys, but also the visuals, the colors I see when I listen to the music, the emotions it transmits to me. From there, I start classifying and organizing into different projects, based on the mood and emotions and the purpose or message one wants to convey.
Talk to us about the latest single Pendejo, what is your favorite lyric from that track?
Even though it’s a very sad song, and it speaks from a place of pain, anger, and frustration over having wasted time, love, and energy on someone who wasn’t worth it, I feel like it’s an incredibly empowering song, despite talking about a sad situation. I like writing that way—talking about sad things but from the perspective of already being on the other side of the road.
My favorite part of the song would be the chorus: “si me dolió, no me mato, pa’ que llorar si eso no era amor..”. It’s the moment of realization that love won’t kill us, and especially not for a love that wasn’t worth it. That’s the message—moving forward, no matter how our little heart may be feeling.
You’ve mentioned that your skills as a songwriter shine through in your work. Can you elaborate on your songwriting process and how you approach crafting a song?
For me, writing songs is like going to therapy, like going to a psychologist, like talking to a friend, like praying, talking to God. So, more than a process to create a song, for me it’s been catharsis. I’ve never made music thinking I’m going to create a hit or make money. I’m always thinking about healing. And the beautiful thing is that a lot of people want to heal, many people are on that journey.
So, I let myself be guided by my emotions, I let myself be carried by the magic of the creative process when I’m in the studio, and I let it flow. There are days when I’m sad and end up making a love song, and there are days when I’m fine, but a memory of something that still caused some pain comes to mind, and I manage to release it through songs.
Your music is described as avant-garde. How do you define your sound, and what influences or inspirations drive your artistic direction?
I would say it’s outside the avant-garde because I haven’t let myself be influenced by what’s mainstream or trending, but rather by what moves my heart and body, as I also love music that makes me dance. There’s no single direction or inspiration; it’s a mix of many genres that have accompanied me throughout my life—the music and energy of Latin culture, of family gatherings during celebrations where we dance and celebrate life. That has always been with me when making music. I always think about celebrating life, even though I often sing songs about heartbreak.
In this project, I’ve reconnected a lot with my roots, with that inner child who enjoyed December when you would hear salsa, boleros, romantic music, music you could dedicate. I feel like that’s been lost a bit now—music that can be dedicated. I’m paying tribute to all those feelings that we, as humans, try to hide when we feel small, when we feel frustrated, when we’re deeply in love and very vulnerable. I feel that’s something that distinguishes me from the music being made now. And I think it’s caught people’s attention because I feel like I’m showing myself without a mask—not just as an artist, but as a human being.
How has your journey as a musician shaped you personally? What lessons have you learned along the way that you carry into your music?
It’s no mystery that for an independent Colombian woman in the music industry, without the support of a major record label, the path is filled with many obstacles. But I’m very grateful for the whole process I’ve been through and the learning experience, even though some stages of my life were quite tough. It was hard not to lose faith in oneself, to keep believing and working without seeing results for many years.
There’s a very Colombian word to describe that, which is ‘Berraquera,’ meaning drive, optimism, good energy, love, hope—a bunch of things all in one word. That’s how I would define it. The process and my internal growth are very much reflected in my music, and it’s all about overcoming obstacles, about being ‘berraquita’.
What are your goals for the next few years, both in terms of your music and your impact on the Latin music scene?
My goal at this moment is to grow my community, to connect more people through music, and to create that connection. I have so many plans, projects that are very big. People may call me a dreamer, but I feel that the mind is the only limit, and wherever this body and this art can take me, I will be ready to receive it and share it with the world.
How do you connect with your fans, and what role do they play in your creative process or in shaping your music?
The more visible I become to people, the more I realize that the only thing that makes us different from each other is the ego, and the environments we come from. But as individual beings, we all want the same thing deep down—we all seek to feel the same beautiful things. The way I’ve connected with my audience is by showing them that the things that aren’t so beautiful are completely necessary for enjoyment and for moving forward to claim the blessings and gifts life has to offer.
I speak about this in my music, how I show myself and how my career and experience have been. And when I speak openly about my life in interviews like this, I always emphasize the struggle and the process because that’s what identifies us as people. I’m not trying to sell a stereotype, and I’m not trying to get people to fall in love with a perfect person, an idol who doesn’t think or doesn’t cry. So I think the connection that this has created is genuine for that reason—I’m not selling a character; I’m being myself, and everything that has happened to me and continues to happen in my life is what I keep sharing in my songs. Everything I write are things that have happened to me.
What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?
Don’t listen to the outside world, because that noise gives us many insecurities, and things take longer to happen because of the fear we tend to deserve. Maybe we do deserve everything, but the same fear we have of believing we’re not worthy of all the beautiful things life has to offer is what keeps us stuck. I hope to inspire, through that process of transformation, because I was one of those people who didn’t believe in myself and didn’t think any of this could happen.
How is your creativity disrupting the culture?
If there’s one thing I was always clear about when I realized I could make music my life project, it’s that I had to change the game. I wasn’t going to repeat the same things that everyone else did to become famous, successful, and recognized. From the smallest details to the biggest concepts, I try to think outside the box, exploring different alternatives—from the visual aspects to the concept, to how I see myself in the mirror, not just from the artistic project.
I’m trying to change the game in how an artist positions themselves, in how an artist wins over the audience. Obviously, this journey has just begun, but I have so many plans, projects, and so much drive. I have 35 kg of drive to share, and La Guru is going to be a name that’s very hard to forget.
What can we expect with your new music?
There’s so much music that is on its way! We have really taken the time to finetune every detail. It’s my best work yet! This next phase of La Guru is the one that excites me the most, to fully pull back the curtain on what I have been working on for so long. Want to take a moment to thank all those who have been a part of the journey to get us here. The fun is about to begin!
TEAM CREDITS:
Interview By Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Photographer: The Meth (@the____meth)
Videographer: Té Johnson (@nrmlyoga)
Wardrobe Stylist: Leonardo Loreto (@leonardoloreto)
Wardrobe Stylist: Juan Betancourt Montoya (@juancreates___)
Assistant Stylist: Jose Angel Ochoa (@joseangelov)
Wardrobe:@circulargallery , dress:@amenleather , accessories:@franciscaferrari
